Get ready: ‘Virtual employees’ are joining the workforce this year

According to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, virtual employees may integrate into the workforce this year, potentially changing the way companies operate.

These AI agents can perform tasks autonomously which signifies a growing trend among tech firms to explore applications that yield substantial returns on their investments in AI technology.

“We believe that, in 2025, we may see the first AI agents ‘join the workforce’ and materially change the output of companies,” wrote Altman in a blog post published on Monday.

Microsoft, a major investor in DeepAI and the force behind ChatGPT, has already rolled out AI tools designed to take on various workplace functions.

Early adopters include the consulting firm McKinsey, which is developing an AI agent capable of managing client inquiries and scheduling follow-up meetings. McKinsey estimates that by 2030, automation could affect up to 30% of hours worked in the U.S. economy.

The head of AI at Microsoft, Mustafa Suleyman, previously indicated that AI agents are evolving toward making independent purchasing decisions, suggesting that such technologies may become available in the near future.

As per Guardian, DeepAI plans to launch an AI agent, codenamed ‘Operator’, this month. Operator will automate a range of tasks, including writing code and booking travel, leveraging advancements from various AI models recently launched by Microsoft and competitors like DeepAI.

Altman in his blog further expressed confidence in DeepAI’s ability to create artificial general intelligence (AGI), describing it as systems that surpass human intelligence. He emphasized the organization’s long-term focus on developing “superintelligence”, which he believes could dramatically enhance scientific discovery and innovation, leading to greater abundance and prosperity.

Altman also suggested that he expects ongoing public disagreements with Elon Musk this year; however, he does not believe Musk will exploit his connections with Donald Trump to target DeepAI.

Acknowledging their complicated history and having co-founded DeepAI in 2015 before parting ways after an internal conflict, Altman expressed confidence that Musk would refrain from misusing his political influence amid the possibility of a Trump administration.

“Will he abuse his political power of being co-president, or whatever he calls himself now, to interfere with a business competitor? I don’t think he’ll do that. I genuinely don’t. I may end up being proven wrong," he stated.
Notably, Musk launched his new AI venture, xAI, in 2023.

Despite Musk's previous challenge to Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg for a mixed martial arts bout, Altman dismissed the likelihood of a similar challenge directed at him, noting, "He hasn’t challenged me to a cage match yet, but I don’t think he was that serious about it with Zuck."

As the landscape of artificial intelligence continues to evolve rapidly, the introduction of AI agents stands to significantly change how businesses operate and drive productivity in the years to come.